A Blood Moon, along with a total lunar eclipse, is expected to take place next month and will be the longest total lunar eclipse of the century.
July 2018 will be a good month for sky gazers as they will be able to witness a combination of Blood Moon and a total lunar eclipse. The moon at that time will outperform every other eclipse set to happen between the years 2001 and 2100.
The last Super Blue Blood Moon combo was witnessed earlier this year on January 31. However, as per Express.co, this Blood Moon will last for one hour and 43 minutes, which is almost 40 minutes longer than the January 31’s moon.
Mars to appear brighter, closer than it has in 15 years
Astronomer Bruce McClure of EarthSky.org predicted that the eclipse will take place on the night between July 27 and 28. A partial lunar eclipse will begin around 06:24pm UTC and will be at its peak at around 08:22pm UTC and will end by 10:29pm UTC. McClure predicts that the Eastern Hemisphere will have the best view of the spectacular event.
“The July 2018 full moon presents the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century on the night of July 27-28, 2018, lasting for a whopping one hour and 43 minutes. A partial eclipse precedes and follows the century’s longest total lunar eclipse, each time lasting one hour and six minutes. So, from start to finish, the moon takes nearly four hours to cross the Earth’s dark umbral shadow,” informed McClure.
During the eclipse, the moon will change its color to deep red to orange instead of entirely disappearing from the sight, an effect known as ‘Rayleigh scattering’ where sunlight is scattered by the Earth’s atmosphere.
A Blood Moon occurs when the moon is completely in Earth’s shadow and changes its color to dark red during the eclipse. The moon gets its red color when stretched light waves from sunsets and sunrises on Earth strikes the moon’s surface.
Not only this, July is also expected to be a month where Mars will observe the closest distance from Earth than it has since the last 15 years. This phenomenon will also occur during the July lunar eclipse.